Weta - Dr Grordbort's Custom Raygun Contest! - SHOW OFF YOUR CONCEPTS AND DESIGNS!

You guys do great work. Minifig your sketches are very inspiring.

I have been bouncing around a lot designs.

The only thing that I have locked down is a name “Ruminating Reactor” ...it's the name of the power booster and not necessarily the gun itself.

I also have decided that the regurgitation valve may be a bit sticky on the unit I produce.
 
DaveG said:
Speaking of the Logo on the fin, Tim, is it possible to get a higher res version of the artwork to use as the basis for some engraving?

Thanks

Dave
Click to expand...


Hi Dave

Does this help ?

188852_194606797227958_194606733894631_569145_2077085_n.jpg
 
PN Vernian said:
I don't mean to dominate the conversation with this long post, but I wanted to comment on the creative catharsis of ideas I'm seeing here for a prop weapon with a heavy mythos. I was just introduced to Dr. Grordbort's "suppository off scientific splendour" not even a week ago for the first time, and I've been swept up in this whole genre' as it works in the SteamPunk 'verse. Steampunk (SP) is such a great idea, because it gives freedom to fans to make whatever they wish, within the parameters of the late 1800's and early 1900s. It's the anti-Trek, and anti-commercialized SF genre' that is based on adventure from classic stories and movie serials. As an old guard Trek fan from 1977, SP is liberating, and at every turn, there is something fantastic, and unique. Trek was Trek, but props and costumes were limited to what was on the screen--through "obsessive reproduction". SP is also a reaction to our over-gizmo'd real world of iPads, Smartphones, Readers, etc.. It's a radical return to a time when life was simpler, where art, mythos and science all worked together and the social network was the local ice cream parlor.

Greg Broadmore's work is outstanding. This little catalog that Dark Horse publishes is packed with imagination, and probability--more so for those of us that know the history of that period. I'm into Railroad history of 1890-1900, Pullman Palace cars and locomotives of that era. It was a naive time, but one where technology moving quickly. The general public actually feared the technology of the day, as it produced so many whacky, false contraptions for medical and well-being purposes.

The Righteous Bison is a cool prop, and well-designed. It has balance and just looks cool in your hand. It's a classic Buck Rogers prop on steroids! What you don't understand on the prop, you can make up as you go along. Attention to detail is so good, that by historical design, it looks very "real"-- which is what fans and collectors want. Something that looks like it could have really existed back in 1900, and that it had all the naive, primitive science of the time inside of it.

All of these elements--history, science of the day, and fantasy combined has produced a perfect storm of creativity for all of us today. What those that started this competition may not know, is that it triggered (pun intended) a multi-faceted "problem" for fans, modelers, designers and collectors of how to approach this competition. This is not just adding parts to a blaster, it's thinking in Greg Broadmore's world of how these modifications might "really" work. This has become a whole new game, and it might seem intimidating to some (BTW-don't quit, Indy), with others thinking: "I know what I'LL do...". But the more you get into this project, like an artichoke, the more layers you have to consider as you go along. I don't mean to over analyze this, or make it too academic, but the experience of creating the "what-ifs" of a period over 100 years ago is a very intriguing opportunity!!!

Minifig provided us with two drawings, and suddenly it's a game changer? His ideas are great! But I'd like to think that the collective talent here is just as good, and we'll see more drawings and open ideas. As (ad hoc) designers, we need to push harder, and raise the bar, and get into it. I have every intention of winning this competition--but not without also sharing my design thinking and knowledge of the materials and techniques of 1900. Here's an example: I may paint the nose with a "bluing" effect, like heat-treated pipes on a Harley--from the heat of the front projector. But you need to know if that kind of steel existed in 1900. yes? What kind of structure was needed to hold it all together? Cast Iron? Could it crack under pressure? Probably. How do you get the spark to make it blast? Use an automotive spark plug of the day? That was cutting edge technology of 1900. You get the idea....

What Weta is offering is a chance to not just redesign a prop, but to push their creative envelope that they created--to make something really awesome! Whether you win or not, you've been involved in a design process that includes fact and science of the day, with some really plausible-mystery fantasy; that makes this really, really fun to think about. So, from my perspective, I expect everyone here to get it together, and to push harder and have a grand-old-time coming up with the ideas that will produce some designs that the judges wished they'd thought of first!!

With great encouragement...and competition!!
Paul N.
Click to expand...

Hey Paul

I was thrilled to read your note. You got this spot on !

At Weta, when we design a weapon or prop, it is about much more than just making the item itself. It's also about the universe or world which the weapon is fitting into. In designing worlds like Middle-earth, Narnia, Pandora, D9 or Dr Grordbort's we try to create a multi layered universe where everything fits in together and complements each other. And the weapon or prop should complement this world. Greg Broadmore does this brilliantly. Read The Art of District 9 and you can see how he made sure the alien weapons all have a rationale and reasoning behind them. This makes them feel ''real'' within their world.

So during your design process, you should be thinking about what materials would have been available in this world, what kind of technologies, what kind of tools, who will be using the weapon, how will they use it, etc, etc

Nice work !

Tim
 
Last edited:
Fantastic to see your early designs Minifig and Brucelee. Sterling work !

It takes courage to be the first to show off your ideas. At Weta, everything we make gets critiqued by our peers. People are constantly making proactive suggestions to help improve your designs.

So I think it's great that you are opening yourself up to feedback from others on the forum.

Good stuff

Tim
 
Just stumbled across this and went to order and looks like I've missed the boat......Looks like a mighty fine competition....good luck everyone....:love


If anyone has a spare coming and only think they will get to doing one please bare me in mind....:)
 
Weta said:
Hi Dave

Does this help ?

188852_194606797227958_194606733894631_569145_2077085_n.jpg
Click to expand...

Is it possible to get it any larger? I wanted to engrave some plates for the stock... DOH! now I've given away my secret idea! If not, that's cool too.
:lol

Thanks for the contest, this rocks!
 
Art Andrews said:
Christopher,

Once you have completed your customization, you will need to take 3 pics of the gun and send them to contest@therp.com along with your board name. Purchasing the gun doesn't automatically enter you into the contest.
Click to expand...

So...Umm... when we get our rayguns delivered, Will we be getting details of when the competition submissions need to be in by? :confused
 
Without the fancy Photoshop or CAD-type software, my hobbits [kids] and I are using the John Howe endorsed method of design...A hard-bound Laptop utilizing 4B & Kneadable Eraser software :D

As a base for our design I have managed to wash-out the existing raygun image and we can print to paper. We can cut up the gun and change things before the real thing arrives.
drgrdborts_nakedgun.jpg
 
Last edited:
DaveG said:
Is it possible to get it any larger? I wanted to engrave some plates for the stock... DOH! now I've given away my secret idea! If not, that's cool too.
:lol

Thanks for the contest, this rocks!
Click to expand...

If you have a vector based program like Illustrator you can just do a trace over that small pic and scale it up as big as you want it. It's all pretty much solid easy shapes so it should be a piece of cake.
 
Tack said:
If you have a vector based program like Illustrator you can just do a trace over that small pic and scale it up as big as you want it. It's all pretty much solid easy shapes so it should be a piece of cake.
Click to expand...

Yes, If it was higher res it would be more accurate, but I will work with whatever is available! All part of the fun.
 
sskunky said:
Just stumbled across this and went to order and looks like I've missed the boat......Looks like a mighty fine competition....good luck everyone....:love


If anyone has a spare coming and only think they will get to doing one please bare me in mind....:)
Click to expand...

It looks like you can get on a waiting list on the bison page at Weta for possible extra gun from cancellations, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

guabe
Limited Run Monarchy: a Laredo Sabers Original
Replies
1
Views
477
guabe
guabe
caross
"Edge of Tomorrow" (2014) - Rotor Blade Sword - 'Angel of Verdun' - Rita Vrataski (First 'real' prop build)
2
Replies
20
Views
2,028
Bacta
Bacta
N
Monster Hunter Wilds prop: Wild Hatchets dual blades
Replies
0
Views
120
NGS Fabrication
N
greenmachines
Let's Talk All Things 3d for prop creation, Scan, Design, Sculpt (real and digital), Print and Finish
14 15 16
Replies
314
Views
15,684
Mottrex
Mottrex
CopperRevan
Let's Talk All Things Star Wars (Again)
10 11 12
Replies
223
Views
16,847
Captain Dunsel
Captain Dunsel
Back
Top